Pentagon condemns Russian movements into Ukraine

Aug. 22, 2014 - 01:22PM
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A pro-Russian gunman holds a piece of shrapnel from a rocket after shelling Friday in downtown Donetsk, Ukraine. Ukraine accused Moscow of invading after Russia unilaterally sent the first part of its mammoth aid convoy into eastern Ukraine on Friday, warning against any attacks on the trucks. (Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP via Getty Images)

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WASHINGTON — A Pentagon spokesman says the U.S. government “strongly condemns” the unilateral movement of a Russian convoy into Ukraine.

Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, called on the Russians to immediately remove the convoy.

He noted that Russia’s defense minister had recently “guaranteed” Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel that the Russian military would not invade Ukraine.

Reports from Ukraine said Russian trucks carrying food, water, generators and sleeping bags crossed into rebel-held regions of Ukraine on Friday morning without the permission of the government in Kiev. Ukraine called the unilateral Russian move a “direct invasion.”